Molecular study of different types of azoospermia

Azoospermia, defined as the absence of spermatozoa in ejaculate after centrifugation, results from testicular dysfunction (non-obstructive) or obstruction of extratesticular ducts (obstructive). Different conditions, both congenital and acquired, can cause testicular failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) recently emerged as a different class of short endogenous single-stranded RNAs. Since the discovery of free miRNAs in different human body fluids, much interest has been focused on developing them as biomarkers in various conditions. Although miRNAs play an essential role in spermatogenesis, little is known about seminal plasma miRNAs in azoospermic men. The aim of this work is to analyze the expression of microRNA in normozoospermic and azoospermic men and to evaluate the differences between various condition of azoospermia